Philippines, 27 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Hopefuls Above 122 Lbs.; Elephant in the Room


PhilBoxing.com





Let me start with an odd observation:

Much has been discussed in the US sports media about Ryan Garcia weighing 3.5 lbs above the super lightweight limit of 140 in the day-before-the-fight weigh-in of his recent bout with Devin Haney.

But nothing was raised about the Elephant in the Room - that is, both Garcia and Haney weighed more than 160 lbs in the actual fight!

There's no doubt that Filipino fighters are world-class, even world-beaters in the lighter weights, from 105 lbs through 122 lbs.

But it seems, with few exceptions, we plateau beyond the super bantamweight or junior featherweight. And it is for a weighty reason, I guess.

Of course, we still have Mark Magsayo, who briefly held the WBC featherweight championship, beating no less than a long-time titlist American Gary Russell Jr. We also have former Olympian Charly Suarez, who is still undefeated as a pro. Both are campaigning at super featherweight and maybe just a big fight away from a crack at a major world title.

But other than them, who else do we have?

At featherweight, we have the undefeated and very promising Lienard Sarcon, who has already fought and won impressively abroad. There's also Mike Plania, who is bent on a comeback after two bad losses moving up from 122 lbs.

At lightweight, we still have the veteran Mercito Gesta, but he may have seen better days. Then there is Genesis Servania, but again, his world-class quality at 122 lbs that troubled Oscar Valdez may not be enough for 135 lbs.

Currently, we have two unbeaten young prospects, Jerald Into and Ryan Racaza, who both have notched up wins over veteran fellow Filipino international campaigners who were once upon a time among our top lightweights. But there is still much work to turn them at least into fighters who can vie for any major regional championship.

However, more than the task of exposing these young fighters to world-class training to develop their potentials is how to carefully match them against American and other opponents, especially in the US.

It appears in the US, as long as fighters meet the limit during the day before the fight weigh-in, organizers would care less about how heavy they are at fight night, especially if there are no so-called rehydration clauses in the contract.

Given that Caucasians are naturally bigger, they could pack more weight - and power - in their bodies to the detriment of us, Asians, and Filipinos.

That's the only explanation I could deduce from the stoppage losses of Servania and Plania, both world-class fighters moving up.

There ought to be stricter regulation and monitoring on the part of the sanctioning organization. Or else, boxing as a fair sport degenerates into the Stone Age where he who has the bigger, larger stick wins.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Sebastian Juarez Remains Undefeated with Captivating 4th Round TKO Over Louis Hernandez
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • Jajaira Gonzalez Prepared to Meet the Moment at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • 2 Division & Former Unified World Champion Juan Francisco Estrada Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 27 Aug 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 AUGUST 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Magpily rules PH National Women's Elimination - Luzon Leg
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Carlos De Leon Shines with 2nd Round TKO, Remains Undefeated on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14
    , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • GM Daniel Quizon Wins 4th Edition Eduardo B. Basilonia Touchmove Open Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 26 Aug 2025
  • Good Luck, Lucky Boy Reymark Alicaba!
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Released
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • Mapua EE wins Bowling B Championship, IM Datu leads Mapua Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 25 Aug 2025
  • ALOYSIUS YAPP CLAIMS LONG-AWAITED US OPEN CROWN
    , Sun, 24 Aug 2025
  • Don King Productions Moving Forward With October 4th WBA World Heavyweight Showdown
    , Sun, 24 Aug 2025
  • Controversial Judges from Pacquiao-Barrios Fight Tapped for Canelo-Crawford Showdown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Levinson’s Gift: Runyon’s quiet revelation, Lawton’s last battle, and the first Filipino boxer
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Rodrigo to challenge undefeated Sandoval in US
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 23 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Call to Action 12 Items for Boxers' Safety
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Libranza vs Pangga headlines Elorde card on Aug 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • GM Antonio to compete in P100,000 top prize Rapid chessfest this Sunday in Roxas City, Capiz Province
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • AISAT Basic Ed football training starts
    By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Josh Navarro Scores Another Win in Pomona, California
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • UNDEFEATED CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE SET TO FACE HEBI MARAPU FOR IBF PAN PACIFIC TITLE
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Dare To Enter: Undefeated WBC Interim Champion Vergil Ortiz to Defend Super Welterweight Title From Number 1 Contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • Euri Cedeno Takes on Willie Jones on Friday, September 5th at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA
    , Fri, 22 Aug 2025
  • COE AND HART CLASH ON BOOTS ENNIS CARD IN PHILADELPHIA
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025
  • ‘There's nothing that he brings to the table that I've not got an answer for’ Sam Rennie on upcoming fight at Thunderdome 51
    , Thu, 21 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.